Binocular apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A binocular-type viewing apparatus designed in such a manner that a user, wanting to view an object located at a distance above the viewer&#39;s horizontal line of sight, need only direct his/her view downward into the apparatus to view the elevated object. Thus the eyepiece component has an optical axis inclined downwardly and an objective optical component of the apparatus has an optical axis inclined upwardly. An optical structure is disposed between the objective and the eyepiece to redirect the image optical path from the objective optical component to the eyepiece component and into the viewer&#39;s eyes. The binocular may have a fixed deviated optical axis or a variably adjustable optical axis from in-line up to or exceeding 90 degrees.

The instant application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/866,441, filed on Apr. 19, 2013, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/638,155 filed Apr. 25, 2012,the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

Embodiments of the invention pertain most generally to the field ofimage-forming optics; more particularly to binocular apparatus and, mostparticularly to binoculars that enable magnified viewing of an elevatedobject without the user's need to tilt their head back and look upward.

Binoculars, like telescopes, are line-of-sight devices; i.e., theoptical axis of the exit pupil is either collinear with or parallel tothe optical axis of the entrance pupil. Thus to view an object at anangle substantially above the viewer's (person's) horizontal line ofsight, the viewer must tilt their head back to orient the device opticalaxis or axes at the object (when the device is held/supported by theviewer rather than being mounted in a tripod, for example). This is thecase, for example, for both roof prism- and porro prism-type binoculars.Binoculars, however, unlike a telescope (e.g., spotting scope) andparticularly, a mounted ‘scope,’ are often used to view objects inmotion (e.g., flying or swimming birds) rather than relativelystationary objects. As such, their use not only invokes their weight,but also brings into play inertia and torque.

The best binoculars in terms of optical parameters (e.g., clarity, imagebrightness, magnification, resolution, field of view, and other knowncharacterizing parameters) typically are also the heaviest. This is due,in part, to the large clear aperture dimensions of the objective andeyepiece, the incorporation of glass lenses and/or prisms and/ormirrors, and housing design and construction.

A problem with heavy binoculars is that they are ‘heavy,’ even when usedto view a stationary object (because they must be held/supported by theuser), and require even more strength to use to view a moving object. Abird watcher, for example, viewing a warbler in a tree-top, must notonly hold the binoculars (as steady as possible) in an upwardly-pointingposition for a (often relatively long) period of time, but must alsospend said (relatively long) period of time with their head tilted backand upward, which may be uncomfortable and also puts significant strainon the viewer's back, shoulders, neck, and other body parts. This stressis amplified if viewing a bird or other non-stationary object in flightor moving. Furthermore, for example, as people age it is not onlyphysically more difficult to spend periods of time in ‘bent’ positions(e.g., looking up) while holding up a heavy (e.g., ≧40 ounces)apparatus, but eyesight typically worsens over time, thus viewers preferbinoculars or other viewing devices that provide the best opticalquality (and are thus the heaviest, bulkiest, etc.).

It would be particularly advantageous to have an hand-held opticalviewing apparatus for viewing distant objects close-up, such as, e.g.,binoculars, that would allow the viewer to look at an object inclined atan angle to the horizontal (e.g., a bird in a tree top) without theviewer having to tilt or cock their head (or torso) in an awkward orunnatural (e.g., tilted back) position while also having to freely (ornearly so) support a relatively heavy optical apparatus in their handsup at eye level. It would be further advantageous if such opticalviewing apparatus was capable of being used as a straight (undeviated)viewing apparatus such as a typical pair of binoculars.

As used herein, an ‘elevated object’ refers to an object to be viewedthat is at an azimuth with respect to the viewer's horizontal line ofsight.

A non-limiting, illustrative embodiment of the invention is a hand-held,(e.g., non-stationary; i.e. non-mounted or otherwise supported except bythe viewer's physical holding or support of the apparatus) opticalapparatus used for magnified viewing of a distant, elevated object,which has an eyepiece component having an eyepiece optical axis and anobjective component having an objective optical axis, in a housing,wherein the eyepiece component optical axis and the objective componentoptical axis are deviated; i.e., neither parallel nor collinear, or atleast disjointable; i.e., the axes can be adjusted to intersect at anangle. Such optical apparatus will have an optical structure adapted totransfer the image optical path from the objective component to theviewing (eyepiece) component and into the viewer's eyes. Such structuremay include one or more similar or different prisms, mirrors, relaylenses, flexible optical fiber bundle(s), and other known opticalcomponents used in optical imaging systems. In an aspect, these axes liein planes that intersect at a location in-between the location of theeyepiece component and the objective component such that the objectiveoptical path plane and the eyepiece optical path plane are deviated andform, e.g., a symmetric or non-symmetric ‘V’ shape. In an aspect, theplanes are fixedly deviated. The optical image path through theobjective to the eyepiece may include more than two rectilinear segmentsin order to optimize the position of the viewing (eyepiece) component inrelation to the viewer's eyes and the ergonomic conditions ofpositioning the apparatus for effective use. The apparatus housing mayhave a functional shape or contour that facilitates use of the viewingapparatus; e.g., a portion or section of the surface of the housing mayrest against a region of the viewer's chest or shoulders. Such portionor section of the housing may be curved or otherwise shaped or contouredto assist in orienting the line of sight of the objective componentand/or stabilizing the viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus may beadjustable between a deviated line of sight and a straight line of sightsuch that the eyepiece optical axis and the objective optical axis arein-line or disjointed, wherein the apparatus would function like atypical (fixed) telescope or pair of binoculars. The optical structureto transfer the image optical path from the objective component to theviewing (eyepiece) component may include a flexible fiber bundle with orwithout additional lenses, mirrors, prisms, or the like.

In an embodiment, the eyepiece component may be replaced by a displayscreen component that displays an image of the distant object, whereinan optical axis (e.g., viewing axis) of the display screen component isneither parallel to nor collinear with the objective component opticalaxis, but rather these axes lie in planes that intersect at a locationin-between the location of the display screen component and theobjective component. In a non-limiting aspect, the objective opticalaxis is horizontal or inclined at a positive (upward from horizontal)angle and the viewing component optical axis is inclined at a negative(downward from horizontal) angle.

In all embodiments, the apparatus may include a sighting aide such asbut not limited to a laser pointer, aiming markings, or other aimingindicia as known in the art.

An embodiment of the invention is a binocular apparatus that includes ahousing; an eyepiece component having an eyepiece optical axis; anobjective component having an objective optical axis; and an imagetransfer component disposed between and optically coupled to theeyepiece component and the objective component, wherein the eyepiececomponent optical axis and the objective component optical axis areneither parallel nor collinear. In various exemplary, non-limitingaspects the apparatus may further include or be characterized by thefollowing features and/or characteristics:

-   -   wherein the eyepiece component optical axis and the objective        component optical axis are disposed at an angle that is greater        than zero degrees and equal to or less than about 90 degrees        (the term ‘about’ being understood to mean 90 degrees±2-4        degrees);    -   wherein the angle is adjustable;    -   wherein the image transfer component is a flexible optical fiber        bundle.

An embodiment of the invention is a binocular apparatus that includes ahousing; an eyepiece component having an eyepiece optical axis; anobjective component having an objective optical axis; and an imagetransfer component disposed between and optically coupled to theeyepiece component and the objective component, wherein the eyepiececomponent optical axis and the objective component optical axis areadjustable between an orientation where they are neither parallel norcollinear to an orientation where they are substantially or exactlyparallel or collinear (i.e., in-line). In various exemplary,non-limiting aspects the apparatus may further include or becharacterized by the following features and/or characteristics:

-   -   wherein the image transfer component is a flexible optical fiber        bundle.

An embodiment of the invention is a method for magnified viewing of anobject using an optical magnifying apparatus that includes an objectivecomponent having an objective optical axis and a viewing component(e.g., eyepiece component; electronic display component) having aviewing component optical axis in which these axes are neither parallelnor collinear, but rather lie in planes that intersect at a locationin-between the location of the viewing component and the objectivecomponent, and looking into the optical magnifying apparatus along theviewing component optical axis in order to view the magnified image ofthe object. In a non-limiting aspect, the objective optical axis ishorizontal or inclined at a positive (upward from horizontal) angle andthe viewing component optical axis is inclined at a negative (downwardfrom horizontal) angle.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, cross sectional view of an optical viewingapparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, respectively, schematically illustrate two known beamdeviating and erecting prisms;

FIG. 3A is a schematic, cross sectional view of a fixed angle opticalviewing apparatus showing optical parameters meeting the specificationslisted in Table 1; FIG. 3B illustrates FIG. 3A in a differentorientation of use, according to illustrative embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic, cross sectional view of a fixed angle opticalviewing apparatus; FIG. 4B illustrates FIG. 4A in a differentorientation of use, according to illustrative aspects of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic, cross sectional view of a fiber-based opticalviewing apparatus; FIG. 5B is a schematic, cross sectional view of afiber-based optical viewing apparatus showing optical parameters meetingthe specifications listed in Table 1; FIG. 5C is a schematic, crosssectional view of a fiber-based optical viewing apparatus, according toillustrative aspects of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a photograph of two standard wound fiber optic image bundlesavailable from Schott Optical Corp.

The disclosed non-limiting, exemplary embodiments are described in theform of binoculars or binocular-type viewing apparatus and associatedmethods; however, the teachings of the disclosure need not be limited tobinocular-type viewing apparatus and methods and may comprise, forexample, monocular viewing apparatus and methods.

An embodiment of the apparatus is a binocular 100 as generally depictedin FIG. 1. Binocular 100 includes a pair of identical ormirror-symmetrical telescopes (monoculars) 120 _(L), 120 _(R) mountedside-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction,allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing adistant object. Each respective monocular 120 includes an objectivecomponent 102 _(R), 102 _(L) and a viewing component 104 _(R), 104 _(L),which in this non-limiting aspect are eyepiece components. Eachobjective component has an objective optical axis O_(OA) and eacheyepiece component has an eyepiece optical axis E_(OA). As in typicalbinoculars or a telescope, the objective optical axis (or axes) O_(OA)is aligned along the line of sight of the object to be viewed. However,unlike in a porro prism style binocular in which the eyepiece componentoptical axis is displaced from but parallel to the objective opticalaxis, the eyepiece component optical axis and the objective componentoptical axis lie in planes that intersect at a location in-between thelocation of the eyepiece component and the objective component, asillustrated, for example in FIGS. 3A, 3B.

The monoculars or telescopes 120 are disposed individually orcollectively in a housing 130. In each monocular, an optical componentor optical system 140 _((R, L)) is disposed in the housing between theobjective component 102 and the eyepiece component 104 to direct theimaging light path of the objective component to become the imaginglight path of the eyepiece component. This function may be accomplishedvia a variety of optical structures known in the art including, but notlimited to, at least one or more prisms and/or mirrors and/or lenses,and/or waveguides (e.g., fiber bundle), and/or gratings used alone or invarious combinations. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates in cross sectiona Schmidt prism that deviates the optical axis by an angle θ and erectsthe image (FIG. 3A). FIG. 2B similarly illustrates a modified Amiciprism. In both examples, the prism apex angle θ determines the angle ofbeam deviation. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, each telescope mayinclude an image erector component 150 _(R, L)) located between therespective optical component or optical system 140 and eyepiececomponents 104.

Thus in accordance with the embodied invention, a user (viewer) can holdthe binocular at chest level, for example, or perhaps rest the apparatusagainst his/her chest, and look into the eyepiece (viewing component) bytilting their head slightly downward (i.e., at a negative angle to thehorizontal) while viewing an object whose line of sight is at a positiveangle to the horizontal (FIG. 3B).

In an aspect, the apparatus will be equipped with focus control andother opto-mechanical controls similarly found on high qualitybinoculars.

According to an exemplary aspect as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, thesystem is a fixed deviated angle design using a Schmidt prism, having an8×magnification, an eye relief (ER)=20 mm; f_(obj)=142 mm, f_(eye)=17.8mm, as set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Magnification 8x Diameter of Entrance Pupil 42 mm Real FullField of View 6 deg. Eye Relief 20 mm Eyepiece Line of Sight (LOS) wrtHorizontal 30 deg. Objective Line of Sight (LOS) wrt Horizontal 0-60deg.

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates an alternative fixed deviated angledesign using a Schmidt prism in which a series of 1:1 relay lenses aredisposed between the prism and the eyepiece to maintain an upright imagewhile increasing the overall optical path of the apparatus. FIG. 4Bshows the system of FIG. 4A in a different orientation of use.

In another embodiment illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1, 5A, 5B, 5C,and 6, the binocular is designed to have a variable deviation anglebetween the objective and eyepiece optical axes. This is accomplished,e.g., by using a fiber optic bundle in each telescope as the opticalcomponent or optical system 140 _((R, L)). As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, afiber bundle in the configuration of a loop allows the angle θ betweenthe fiber bundle ends to be variably adjusted between zero and 90degrees or more, and locked into a fixed deviation angle that the userfinds convenient and comfortable via a control on the housing (notshown). FIGS. 5B, 5C show a fiber bundle that is not in a loop, butbendable over a finite radius less than 90 degrees. Accordingly, thebinocular can be adjusted to have a straight line of sight as in atypical binocular, or be adjusted to have a deviated line of sight. Assuch, when the optical axes are deviated, a user does not have to holdthe binoculars upwardly from the horizontal in order to view an objectlocated upwardly from the horizontal. FIG. 5A further illustrates avariably adjustable binocular design having an overall length L=200 mm,an 8×magnification, ER=20 mm, f_(eye)=14 mm, f_(obj)=75 mm, andf_(relay)=27 mm.

It is envisioned that the eyepiece component of such an apparatus couldbe replaced with a viewing screen (LCD, LED, plasma, OLED, others knownin the art) similar to that found on a digital camera. It is furtherenvisioned that acoustic or other sound-tracking components could becoupled to the viewing apparatus to further assist in spotting theobject to be viewed.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. The term “about” whenprefacing a dimension means the exact value of the recited dimension orsubstantially the value of the recited dimension within a reasonableaccuracy tolerance as understood by a person skilled in the art.

The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serveas a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate valuefalling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and eachseparate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable orderunless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted bycontext. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g.,“such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminateembodiments of the invention and does not impose a limitation on thescope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.

No language in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There isno intention to limit the invention to the specific form or formsdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover themodifications and variations of this invention provided they come withinthe scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A ‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus, comprising: a housinghaving an optical viewing end characterized by an optical axis and anoptical objective end characterized by an optical axis; and an opticalimaging assembly disposed within the housing, wherein the optical axisof the optical objective end is operationally inclined upwardly withrespect to the optical axis of the optical viewing end.
 2. The ‘pair ofbinoculars’ apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical imaging assemblyis parameterized for imaging an object at an object distance greaterthan one meter.
 3. The ‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus of claim 1,wherein the optical objective end is operationally inclined upwardlywith respect to the optical viewing end at an angle less than 90degrees.
 4. The ‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus of claim 1, wherein theoptical imaging assembly comprises a right-eye and a left-eye objectivecomponent and a right-eye and a left-eye eyepiece component.
 5. The‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical imagingassembly comprises a right-eye and a left-eye objective component and animage viewing display.
 6. The ‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus of claim 1,wherein the optical imaging assembly comprises a fiber optic image relaycomponent.
 7. The ‘pair of binoculars’ apparatus of claim 1, wherein theoptical imaging assembly comprises a prism image relay component.